Staying Safe During Harvest Season

Amid challenging conditions in some areas or threatening weather on the horizon, farmers put in longer hours during harvest and during calving season. Amid the “need to get things done,” safety should stay a top priority.

One of the main sources of death on the farm is tractor- related accidents. The University of Nebraska Medical Center shares the basic procedures one should follow if you discover a tractor rollover.

“Making sure that the tractor is turned off and that the implements that it was attached to wasn’t still spinning or running. Making sure that there’s no fuel spill or chemical spill. And try to make sure that you as the rescuer don’t become another person involved in the incident. Also, the early activation of the 911 system is really important.”

Rollovers and other ag-related accidents could lead to loss of life injury and high medical bills. According to a University of Nebraska study, on-farm incidents can cost an average of 35 thousand dollars. That includes 15 hundred for out of pocket costs 7 thousand dollars for medical expenses and more than 20 thousand for time off work and transportation costs.

For more harvest safety information visit unmc.edu.

RFD-TV News Staff